Law Enforcement Narrows Search Efforts, Thanks Volunteers for their Time in search of missing Iowa girl

After four and a half days of broad and exhaustive search efforts to find Kathlynn Shepard, law enforcement is scaling back and narrowing their focus on terrain that is more difficult to navigate. At this time citizen volunteers are no longer needed, as future search efforts will require specialized skills and equipment.

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Nebraska City News-Press - Nebraska City, NE

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Posted May. 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Updated May 26, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Posted May. 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Updated May 26, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Webster County, IOWA

After four and a half days of broad and exhaustive search efforts to find Kathlynn Shepard, law enforcement is scaling back and narrowing their focus on terrain that is more difficult to navigate. At this time citizen volunteers are no longer needed, as future search efforts will require specialized skills and equipment.

Search efforts are continuing. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 25, 2013, trained law enforcement personnel will specifically search land between the hog confinement where the two girls were taken after their abduction, and the location where the girls' backpacks were found. This is rough terrain and must be searched by smaller groups of trained law enforcement. In addition, river and air searches will continue, as it has over the last few days.

The Department of Public Safety, Webster County Sheriff's Office and the Dayton Police Department extend their thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who helped search roughly 220 square miles of rural Webster, Boone and Hamilton counties. For each of the last 4 days, more than 125 law enforcement, firefighter, first responder and correction personnel, working with nearly 200 citizen volunteers walked fields and timber completely covering the designated search area.

Area residents are still encouraged to help in the search for Kathlynn by checking their own land, homes, and other buildings. If you come across anything suspicious or gain information related to the whereabouts of Michael Klunder or Kathlynn Shepard on May 20, 2013, please contact law enforcement immediately. Call 515-573-1410 with any information.

Kathlynn Shepard was reported missing late Monday afternoon, May 20, 2013, when another juvenile indicated the pair had been abducted after accepting a ride from the now deceased suspect Michael Klunder. Kathlynn is 5'6" tall and 160 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. Kathlynn was last seen wearing jeans, a grey t-shirt, and a Cubs ball cap.